Food Stamps for Aliens

Qualified aliens are eligible to receive food stamps and be in the food stamp program if they meet certain food stamp qualification criteria. There are many criteria for qualified aliens to be eligible for food stamps. Even non qualified aliens are allowed to receive food stamps under certain qualifying conditions for food stamps. Below are ways to receive food stamps and be in the government food stamp program for aliens.

How do qualified aliens meet food stamp qualifications?

Qualified aliens can meet food stamp qualifications and receive food stamps without waiting period if they are:

• Legal immigrant children under age 18
• Blind or disabled legal immigrants who receive disability assistance or benefits
• People who legally resided in the U.S. on August 22, 1996, and were age 65 or older on August 22, 1996
• Lawful permanent residents who are active duty members or veterans of the U.S. armed forces or a spouse or a child of a veteran or active duty service member
• Refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• Asylees under section 208 of the INA
• Deportees or removal withheld under section 234(h) or 241(b)(3) of the INA
• Cuban or Haitian entrants under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980
• Amerasian immigrants under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988.

Other ways qualified aliens can qualify for food stamps

Qualified aliens will also be eligible for food stamps if:

• they have lived in the U.S. for five years in qualified status
• Lawful permanent residents (they may be eligible sooner than five years if they have 40 work credits)
• Parolees (paroled for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of INA)
• Conditional entrants under 203(a)(7) of INA in effect prior to April 1, 1980
• A battered spouse, battered child or parent or child of a battered person with a petition pending under 204(a)(1)(A) or (B) or 244(a)(3) of INA.

How do non qualified aliens meet food stamp qualifications?

Legal aliens can be eligible for food stamps even if they are not qualified for food stamps if these legal aliens meet the food stamp qualifications below.

• Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members (including their spouses and children) who helped the U.S. military during the Vietnam era
• American Indians born in Canada
• Members of Indian tribes under section 450b(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.